A lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the evolution disclaimer used in Cobb County, Georgia, took a step forward, when a federal judge ruled that the suit could proceed to trial.

The disclaimer, which is affixed inside the books used in Cobb County's public schools, reads, "This textbook contains material on evolution. Evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully and critically considered."

Paleontologist Niles Eldredge of the American Museum of Natural History was profiled in a story in the March 9, 2004, issue of The New York Times. The story, subtitled "Bursts of Cornets and Evolution," discusses the affinities between Eldredge's scientific vocation and his musicological avocation--studying the history of the cornet.